JPS61179080A - Thin laminate connector used for printed circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to thin laminate connectors for use in printed circuit boards, and more particularly to connectors for electrically interconnecting parallel spaced printed circuit boards. Concerning the construct.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A variety of connector structures have been proposed for interconnecting parallel spaced printed circuit boards. These connectors are referred to as "laminated connectors."

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventional laminate connectors are placed between two adjacent printed circuit boards and are comprised of two telescoping interfitting members that are respectively attached to each circuit board. . However, such a configuration requires significant spacing between the printed circuit boards to accommodate these two connector members. As electronic components become increasingly smaller,
There is a need for thinner connectors that allow for closer interconnect spacing between adjacent parallel spaced printed circuit boards.

An example of such a thin connector is Otsuki (Otsuki).
Tsuki et al., US Pat. No. 4,232,923. As disclosed in that patent, this thin connector has terminals extending in a direction parallel to the printed circuit board and perpendicular to the insertion direction of the male connection element. This elongated terminal has multiple bends,
These bends must be formed with tight tolerances in order to precisely define the contact opening of the female connecting element that receives the male connecting element. If either bend is not formed accurately, contact pressure will be greatly affected. Also, because the connector is elongated in a direction parallel to the mounting surface of the printed circuit board, it occupies space on the printed circuit board. Such space occupancy becomes a serious problem when components are mounted at a high density.

Additionally, while the connectors described above are designed to have a reduced thickness, many applications require that adjacent printed circuit boards be more closely stacked.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards, which allows the spacing between the printed circuit boards to be narrower than before. That's true.

Another object of the invention is an electrical connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards, which provides the required contact pressure at all times and which can be formed inexpensively from die-cut stock in a minimal manufacturing process with low tolerances. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having an integral terminal member.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connector for printed circuit boards that allows for reduced spacing between printed circuit boards while requiring less installation space than prior art.

These objects of the present invention provide a first printed circuit board for electrically connecting a first printed circuit board and connector pins extending in a predetermined direction and electrically mating with a second printed circuit board. This is achieved in an improved thinner laminated connector that is attached to the The second printed circuit board is parallel to and spaced apart from the first printed circuit board.

The above-described laminate connector includes a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one of which forms a circuit board mounting surface that is attached to a first surface of a first printed circuit board. The above housing.

It also has a pin receiving passage. The above connector.

It further includes a die-cut integral terminal mounted to the housing, the terminal having a resilient female portion communicating with the pin-receiving passageway, which upon advancement of the connector pin in a predetermined direction. It is electrically mated with the connector pin. or,
The terminal has a circuit board engaging portion extending from the circuit board mounting surface for electrical connection to the first printed circuit board, and means for retaining the terminal within the housing. There is.

The improved laminated connector of the present invention includes a spring-like cantilevered finger member extending in a predetermined direction to serve as a resilient female portion.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Briefly illustrating the accompanying drawings, a number of printed circuit boards, designated A, B, C and D, are electrically interconnected using various connectors according to the present invention. As will be described in more detail below, by inserting electrically conductive pin-like connecting elements into the printed circuit boards so as to engage the multiple connectors of the present invention provided on each printed circuit board to be interconnected. , the connection is made. In various embodiments of the invention,
Attachment may be made to the top, bottom, or both of the printed circuit boards.

Referring to FIG. 2, connector 10 includes an insulative housing 12 and a die-cut, integral conductive terminal member 14 attached thereto. As seen in FIGS. 2-4, terminal 14 includes a female portion 16 and a circuit board engaging portion 18.20. Housing 12
has a mounting surface 22,24 and a plurality of pin receiving passages 26. For clarity of illustration, the housing 12 is shown.

Only one terminal member 14 is shown installed. The pin-like or male connecting element is inserted into the connector 10 in the direction of the arrow 3°. Yet another terminal is connected to the housing 12.
When installed in a The section 16 comprises a U-shaped support member 34, which has a central portion 36 and two legs 38,40. Extended finger member 42 is joined at a first end 44 to central portion 36 and has a contact cam surface 46 at a free end 48 thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the finger member 42 is partially surrounded by the support member 34, from which the finger member 42 extends in the direction of arrow 30, i.e.
It extends in the insertion direction of the connecting element. Housing 12
includes a shoulder 50 that engages central support portion 36 to retain terminal 14 in housing 12. Leg portion 38.
A tongue 52 located adjacent to 40 also engages shoulder 50 to help retain the terminal. The interconnection member 54 is
The legs 38 of the female portion 16 and the circuit board engaging members 18.20 are interconnected. Arrowhead-shaped protrusions 58,60 formed adjacent the circuit board engaging members engage side walls 62 of cavities 64 formed in housing 12 to further assist in holding terminals 14 in place.

If more retention is required, a second support member 66 integrally formed with the terminal 14 can be provided. This second support member 66 is U-shaped and has the same appearance as the support member 34, but the finger-shaped contact member is omitted. The second support member 66
It may be sized so that it is frictionally engaged within the support cavity 68 of the.

The second support member 66 is joined to the other portions of the terminal 14 via the interconnect member 54, as seen in FIG. 3, which may be engaged by the second optional shoulder 69.

To explain FIG. 5, the connector 10 described above has one character A.
It is mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of two closely spaced parallel printed circuit boards shown as and B. Fifth
The cross-sectional view in the figure shows in detail the installed state of the connector 10 in FIG. 1. Connector 1o is inserted into a printed circuit board at both the top and bottom of its circuit board engaging member and electrically connected by soldering or other similar manner. Fifth
In the figure, surface 70a is considered to be the component mounting surface of printed circuit board A, while surface 11a is considered to be the component fixing surface on which components are secured to this circuit board by soldering or the like. Similarly, the first surface 70b is the component mounting surface of the printed circuit board B, and these components are mounted on the opposite component fixing surface 71.
It is fixed at b. In FIG. 5, the ends of two circuit board engaging members 20 are soldered to surface 71a of printed circuit board A, and so on.

The end of the circuit board engaging member 18 is connected to the surface 71b of the printed circuit board B.
is soldered to. As can be seen, the circuit board engaging member 1
8.20 is the circuit board mounting surface 24.22 of the housing 12
It extends from. After installing the connector 10 and the printed circuit boards A and B, pin-like connecting elements 72 are inserted into holes 74, 76 in each of the printed circuit boards A and B. By inserting the pin 72, the finger contact portion 42 is bent,
Electrical contact with connector 10 is established. pin 72
The cam surface 46 of the finger contact portion 42 and the housing 12
The connector 1° is held in engagement with the adjacent side wall 80 of the connector 1°. A laminate connector of this configuration typically provides electrical connection to a printed circuit board, as shown at 10 in FIG. Can be connected. One example of such a configuration is where a separate wire is connected between pin 72 and another printed circuit portion (which may or may not include a printed circuit board).

Two other embodiments of the connector of the present invention are substantially similar to connector 10 described above, but with either circuit board engaging member 18 or 20 removed. From the configuration of the second circuit board engaging member 20, point wA92
If the connector 10 in FIG. 2 is removed by cutting at the top, the connector 10 shown in FIG. Connector 210 is similar to connector 10 described above, except for the removal of circuit board engagement member 2o used for engagement.

FIG. 7 shows a stacked configuration of two connectors 210 to interconnect printed circuit boards C and D. The "top insertion" type connector 210 of the present invention provides a spacing between adjacent printed circuit boards C and D that is not previously possible. As is clear from FIG. 6, the housing 12 is provided with a cavity 64.

The circuit board engaging member 18 is disposed adjacent to the surface 2 of the housing.
4. This cavity 64 has a cross member 54 disposed in close proximity to the circuit board mounting surface 24 for receiving the end of the circuit board engaging member of another connector, e.g. The plate engaging member 18 is arranged so that it does not extend into the cavity 648. An arrowhead-shaped retaining projection 58,60 is optionally provided within the cavity 64 only in its lowermost part. Therefore, referring to FIG.

The upper connector 210 is positioned directly above the lower connector 210, with a portion of the upper circuit board engaging member extending under the printed circuit board C and inserted into the cavity 64 of the lower connector 210. As is clear from FIG. 7, the pin-shaped connecting elements 84 are inserted into the holes 86B, 86C and 86D.
Received within the upper and lower connectors 210. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 5, pins 84 are retained between the spring-like finger contacts 42 of each connector 210 and the adjacent sidewalls of each connector housing.

FIG. 8 shows a bottom entry J-type connector 310. The first circuit board engaging member 18 of the connector shown in FIG. 2 is removed by cutting at dotted line 94. Connector 310 is formed in all other respects as connector 10 described above with reference to FIGS. 2-4. An enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 9, the connector 310 is attached to the lower surface 83a of the printed circuit board A. The free end of the circuit board engaging member 2o extending from the circuit board mounting surface 22 is connected to a solder or similar Connector 3 is fixed to the opposite side 83b of printed circuit board A by connecting means of
10 includes a pin-like connecting element 84 between the spring-like finger contact 42 and the adjacent side wall 80 of the connector housing 12.
hold.

In any event, the mounting surface of the connector of the present invention is arranged adjacent to the component mounting surface of the printed circuit board, with the circuit board engaging member projecting to the opposite surface of the printed circuit board, and the soldering or otherwise Fixed. The pin-receiving passages of the electrically interconnected connectors must be aligned to permit the engagement of electrically conductive pin-like connecting elements with each female contact finger of each connector. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the integral terminals of the present invention do not necessarily need to be die-cut from a flat stock. However, in the preferred embodiment, the terminals are die-cut for economic reasons.

Effects of the Invention Thus, the connector of the present invention can provide consistent contact pressure throughout the connector package, reduce the spacing between circuit boards, and reduce the required installation space. be effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of printed circuit boards interconnected by various connectors of the present invention; FIG. Figures 3 and 4 are views showing the terminal members of the connector in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a cross-section of the connector in Figure 2 installed between two printed circuit boards; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the connector of the present invention mounted in a "top-insertion" manner on a printed circuit board; FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1; , shows two connectors of FIG. 6 installed on two adjacent printed circuit boards, and is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1; FIG. A perspective view showing still another embodiment of the connector of the present invention,
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing the connector of FIG. 8 installed on a printed circuit board. A, B, C...Printed circuit board 10...Connector 12...Insulating housing 14.
...Conductive terminal member 16...Female portion 18.20...Circuit board engaging portion 22.24...Mounting surface 26...Pin receiving passage 34...U-shaped support member 36... - Central part 38.40... Leg part 42... Finger member 46... Contact cam surface 50... Shoulder part 54... Interconnecting member 58.60... Arrowhead-like projection 64... Cavity 66...Second support member 68...
・Second support cavity 69...Second shoulder 72...Pin 210...
Top insertion type connector 310...Bottom insertion type connector FIG, 5 F! G, 6 FIG, 9 Hand-based selling correction 轡) (method) February 24, 1986

Claims (26)

[Claims] (1) electrical connection between a first printed circuit board and a connector pin extending in a predetermined direction and electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced parallel from the first printed circuit board; a thin laminate connector mounted to the first printed circuit board for connection, comprising a housing having upper and lower surfaces and a pin receiving passage, at least one of the surfaces being connected to the first printed circuit board; forming a circuit board mounting surface that is attached to the first side of the printed circuit board, and further includes a die-cut integral terminal attached to the housing, the terminal being attached to the pin receiving passageway and connected to the housing. a resilient female portion that is electrically engaged with the connector pin when the connector pin is advanced in a predetermined direction;
a circuit board engaging portion extending from the circuit board mounting surface for electrical connection to the first printed circuit board; and means for retaining the terminal within the housing;
Further, the resilient female portion includes a spring-like cantilever finger member extending in the predetermined direction. (2) the terminal is formed from a flat metal stock and includes a member interconnecting the female portion to the circuit board engaging portion, the female portion of the terminal being a support member from which the finger member depends; and the supporting member cooperates with the housing to form the retaining means.
The laminated connector described in item 1). (3) the support member generally includes a U-shaped portion;
A laminate connector according to claim 2, wherein said housing further includes a shoulder engaging said U-shaped portion. (4) the circuit board engaging portion is in a first plane perpendicular to the first printed circuit board, and the U-shaped portion is generally perpendicular to the first plane and the printed circuit board; The laminated connector according to claim 3, which lies in a second plane. (5) The laminated connector according to claim (1), wherein the circuit board mounting surface of the housing is an upper surface. (6) The laminated connector according to claim (1), wherein the circuit board mounting surface of the housing is a lower surface. (7) the terminal includes a second circuit board engaging portion extending from the first circuit board engaging portion to a housing surface opposite the circuit board mounting surface; A laminated connector according to claim 5 or 6, which is adapted to be electrically connected to a circuit board. (8) The holding means further comprises an arrowhead-shaped portion formed on at least one of the first and second circuit board engaging portions so as to engage the housing. ) Laminated connectors as described in section. (9) said retaining means further comprises a second generally U-shaped member interconnected to said circuit board engaging portion by said interconnecting member;
4. A laminate connector as claimed in claim 4, comprising a terminal support portion in the form of a shape and second housing shoulder means engaging the second U-shaped portion. 10. The laminate connector of claim 9, wherein said second U-shaped member is in a third plane spaced generally parallel to said second plane. (11) upper and lower printed circuit board structures spaced parallel to each other and each having a component mounting surface and an opposite surface; 1 laminate connector, the housing having a pin-receiving passageway, an integral terminal mounted to the housing, the terminal electrically connected to the upper printed circuit board; a first laminate connector having a first laminate connector with a free end of the circuit board engaging portion extending below the top printed circuit board; and a first laminate connector extending in a predetermined direction and electrically associated with the top printed circuit board. a second thin laminate connector attached to the first side of the lower printed circuit board to electrically connect between the upper printed circuit board and the lower printed circuit board; and a housing having upper and lower surfaces and pin receiving passages, at least one of the surfaces being attached to the first surface of the lower printed circuit board. A die-cut, integral terminal is mounted to the housing, forming a circuit board mounting surface, and communicating with the pin-receiving passageway so that the connector pin is advanced in a predetermined direction. a resilient female portion electrically mating with a pin; a circuit board engaging portion extending from the circuit board mounting surface to electrically connect to the lower printed circuit board; and means for holding the printed circuit in the printed circuit, further comprising a spring-like cantilevered finger member extending in the predetermined direction. Laminated connector used for plate assembly. (12) The circuit board mounting surface of the housing is the bottom surface,
12. A laminate connector according to claim 11, wherein said second laminate connector further comprises means for receiving a free end of a circuit board engaging portion of an upper laminate connector. (13) The laminate according to claim (12), wherein the receiving means comprises a cavity formed in the housing adjacent the circuit board engaging portion so as to communicate with the upper surface. connector. (14) The housing includes shoulder means, and the female portion of the terminal includes a U-shaped support member from which the finger member depends, the support member cooperating with the housing shoulder. 14. The laminated connector according to claim 13, wherein said holding means is formed by forming said holding means. (15) at least three parallel spaced printed circuit boards each having opposing top and bottom surfaces, at least one of said surfaces forming a component securing surface, and each adjacent pair of circuit boards having one Adjacent printed circuit boards having mutually opposing surfaces defined by a bottom surface of the circuit board and a top surface of an adjacent circuit board so as to electrically interconnect at least two of said printed circuit boards; further comprising at least two laminated connectors, one between each pair, each connector including a housing having a pin receiving passageway with a terminal mounted thereon and a female portion in the pin receiving passageway; a circuit board engaging portion extends from the housing to electrically connect the component fixing surfaces of adjacent printed circuit boards, and pins of each connector extend from the housing to electrically connect the connectors to each other. connector pin means received within the receiving passageway, further comprising: an end of the circuit board engaging portion of each terminal extending through a fixed surface of the printed circuit board to which the terminal is connected; A laminate connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly, wherein the housing of one laminate connector disposed between circuit boards includes a cavity for receiving an end of the circuit board engaging portion of an adjacent laminate connector. (16) A pin receiving hole is formed in the printed circuit board, the pin receiving hole and the pin receiving passage are aligned, and the connector pin means is received in all of the pin receiving hole and the pin receiving passage. Claim 1 includes an integral elongated connector pin of sufficient length to
A laminated connector used in the printed circuit board assembly described in item 5). (17) The terminal of the connector is a die-cut integral terminal, and the female portion includes a resilient member extending to engage the connector pin means. A laminated connector for use in the printed circuit board assembly according to item (16). (18) Each of the connector housings has a pair of opposing surfaces that abut opposing surfaces of adjacent printed circuit boards. connector. (19) The laminated connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly as claimed in claim (18), wherein the circuit board engaging portions of the terminals are aligned with each other. (20) The at least one connector further includes another circuit extending from the housing in a direction opposite to the one circuit board engaging portion for electrically connecting to a component fixing surface of another adjacent printed circuit board. A laminated connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly according to claim 18, comprising a plate engaging portion. (21) The laminated connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly according to claim (17), further comprising means for holding the terminal in the housing. (22) a pair of parallel spaced adjacent printed circuit boards each having opposing upper and lower surfaces, at least one of the surfaces forming a component fixing surface; said pair of adjacent printed circuit boards having mutually opposing surfaces defined by a bottom surface of said circuit board and a top surface of said adjacent circuit board for electrically interconnecting said pair of printed circuit boards to connector pin means; further comprising a laminate connector disposed between a printed circuit board with a housing having two opposing surfaces and a pin receiving passageway, the housing having a terminal mounted thereon and a female pin receiving passageway having a terminal therein; at least two opposed circuit board engaging portions extend from opposing sides of the housing for respective electrical connection to component securing surfaces of each printed circuit board; electrically coupled to the board,
A laminate connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly, comprising connector pin means received within a pin receiving passage for electrical connection to the laminate connector. (23) A pin receiving hole is formed in the printed circuit board, the pin receiving hole and the pin receiving passage of the laminated connector are aligned with each other, and the connector pin means includes a pin receiving hole and a pin receiving passage of the laminated connector. 23. A laminate connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly as claimed in claim 22, including integral elongated connector pins of sufficient length to be received in all of the receiving passageways. (24) A laminated connector for use in a printed circuit board assembly according to claim (23), wherein opposing surfaces of the connector housing abut opposing surfaces of the pair of printed circuit boards. (25) The above-mentioned connector terminal is a die-cut integral terminal, and the above-mentioned female terminal portion is provided with an elastic finger member extending so as to engage with the above-mentioned connector pin. A laminated connector for use in the printed circuit board assembly according to item (24). (26) The connector pin is used in the printed circuit board assembly according to claim 25, wherein the connector pin is electrically combined with a third printed circuit board spaced apart from the pair of printed circuit boards. Laminated connector.